Category Archives: Events

Some wonderful pictures from our meeting on 2/18/17! We had great student-led discussions on several issues including the rigors of surgical training and the imposter syndrome, over-reliance on EMR, therapeutic communications skills, strategies to ace the NCLEX and MCAT exams, and preparation for job interviews. Everyone participated and it was great learning exercise for all in attendance!

Our dear mentor and program supervisor Dr. Alden Harken turned 71 this month. To celebrate this milestone, OREX members were invited to share in the fun and activities on an “Independence Day”-themed party of RED, WHITE & BLUE! The day was filled with games like “Dance Dance Revolution”, “Pin the Scapel on Dr. Harken”, Dart throws to pop balloons with hidden gifts inside, as well as “Bocce Ball” etc. Dr. Harken showed us just how dedicated he is truly is to the idea of good health and fitness by performing 71 push-ups and singlehandedly beating others half his age by more than 20 push-ups!! Here are the memories from that wonderful day!

We’re very excited to announce that OREX has turned 4 this year! In celebration of OREX’s continued success as one of the few programs in the country that exposes pre-health professionals to surgeries in progress, we are pleased to announce that OREX is growing. This year, OREX volunteers are welcomed to attend UCSF-East Bay Surgery’s Grand Rounds and shadow the orthopedic clinic on Tues and Thurs in addition to surgery observation.

Every year Dr. Harken and his wife graciously hosts the members of the OREX group. It is a wonderful occasion for the students to not only get a chance to interact with Dr. Harken but with some of the members of the surgical team, including medical students, residents and attendings. This is truly one of the highlights of the year for OREX members!

Yestday, we started a new OREX tradition — dinner at Dr. Harken’s home in the spring! It was a perfect day to have appetizers on their porch, talk to a surgical resident and UCSF medical students, and the Chief of Surgery at the UCSF-East Bay Department of Surgery himself, Dr. Harken.

Mrs. Harken made a wonderful salmon dinner with home-made strawberry cheesecake for dessert and we ended the night by chatting in the living room from everything to the surgeon’s life, to Guitar Hero!